As night fell, a dim darkness began to envelop the scene. The streets were empty, devoid of any passersby, except for a bar that remained lively and bustling.
The door to the bar creaked open. Neil quietly entered, making his way to the bar counter and tapping the shoulder of the person seated there.
Roger turned, surprised. “Wow, what brings you here tonight?”
Neil took a seat and signaled to Bie, who was behind the bar. “One beer, please.”
Roger glanced around, “Where’s Zoe?”
“He’s out camping with classmates.”
Neil downed half the beer in one gulp, then lifted the bottle to his mouth again, finishing it off in another long swig.
He signaled for another beer from Bie. “Another one, please.”
Roger, watching Neil, asked, “What’s with the heavy drinking?”
Neil nodded in acknowledgment as Bie handed over another beer. Neil chugged it down just as quickly as the first. He then placed the empty bottle down with a thud, remaining silent.
“Is it about that cop Brian again?” Roger asked.
Neil shook his head. “It’s resolved. He shot someone without reason but claimed he didn’t remember his actions. He’s undergoing psychological treatment now. If it’s determined that he’s not suffering from a personality disorder or mental illness, he might face disciplinary action, be barred from carrying a weapon, and reassigned to clerical work in the police department.”
“What about Sunny’s case? Did they find out who killed her?”
“There were no cameras, no signs of a struggle, and no injuries on her body. The police had to close the case without further investigation.”
Neil’s face was flushed, and his breath reeked of alcohol. He signaled for another beer from Bie. After a moment’s hesitation, Bie looked at Roger, who nodded in approval. Bie opened another bottle and handed it to Neil.
“Hey, you’re drinking too much. Is there something going on with you and Zoe?” Roger asked.
Neil’s hand holding the beer stopped mid-air. He frowned, then set the bottle down, raking his fingers through his disheveled hair and glowering at Roger.
“What should I do?”
“Do what? You need to be clear about things,” Roger insisted.
“Zoe wants me to be like an older brother to him.”
Roger’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? He said that to you?”
Neil nodded. Roger sighed helplessly. “It’s because he’s lost his memory. Such a traumatic event—a man with a gun invading the house and shooting him—would understandably leave him confused.”
Roger continued, “Maybe you should tell Zoe the whole truth and express your feelings.”
Neil shook his head. “How can I do that when his life was ruined because of my mistakes? If he knew everything, he’d leave me again.”
“So you’re just going to suffer silently?” Roger said. “Someday Zoe will have a partner. If you stay silent out of fear that he’ll leave, you’ll regret it later. You think seeing Zoe happy is enough? I believe that if Zoe remembers the past, he’ll hate you even more, and it’ll be harder to be together because you weren’t honest with him the first time.”
Roger patted Neil on the shoulder. “In love, honesty is crucial. Maybe when Zoe learns the truth, he’ll leave you. But at least you’ll have been honest with him. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll forgive you.”
Neil sighed softly, shaking his head. He mocked himself internally, thinking it was impossible for Zoe to forgive him. But perhaps Roger was right—he needed to be honest with Zoe. If Zoe could remember everything, he would recall the happy times they shared, not just the present, where Zoe saw him as a brother.
Late into the night, as the bar closed, Neil wandered aimlessly down the deserted street. He stumbled along for a while before stopping, looking up at the starlit night sky.
“Zoe, I love you,” Neil shouted into the night.
Lost in his thoughts, a hand gently patted his shoulder from behind. Neil turned around, surprised, and then smiled.
“You said you’d stay the night. What are you doing here?”
“I’m not used to sleeping outside, so I wanted to come home,” Zoe said, looking at Neil curiously. “What were you shouting about?”
Neil awkwardly waved his hand and shook his head. “No… I didn’t say anything… Nothing at all…”
With his breath smelling strongly of alcohol, Zoe raised an eyebrow. “Have you been drinking? Let me take you home.”
Neil wobbled and then waved his hand dismissively. “No… I’m fine. I can get home by myself. You just go and enjoy yourself.”
As Neil’s steps faltered, Zoe quickly grabbed his hand, wrapping his arm around Zoe’s shoulders while holding his waist.
“What’s going on? Why are you so drunk?” Zoe asked, his voice tinged with concern.
“Me?” Neil pointed at himself, “I… I’m just fine.”
Neil tilted his head, and his lips curved into a pained smile.
“I’m… heartbroken… That’s right, heartbroken… Heartbroken.”
“Heartbroken?” Zoe blinked, confused. “Do you have a girlfriend? When did that happen?”
Neil looked up at Zoe, his expression weak but his voice still soft.
“Yeah, but it’s over. It’s all over…”
With that, Neil walked away, leaving Zoe standing there, stunned. Zoe had come back early from camping because he wanted to see Neil, and now he found him drunk and heartbroken.
For some reason, hearing Neil’s confession stirred a deep discomfort in Zoe. Neil was his brother, simple as that, but he felt a gnawing anxiety and fear that someone might take him away.
Zoe clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration and helplessness that didn’t align with the feelings of a younger sibling towards an older brother. It felt more like jealousy and possessiveness.
Standing still for a moment, Zoe then ran to Neil, wrapping his arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
“Let’s go home together.”